←

Monday 11 May 2026

SS Cyril and Methodius, Apostles to the Slavs

Monday of the 5th Sunday of Pascha

→

No Fast — Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed Tone 4

Paschaltide, day 30 · 29 days since Pascha

About Founding of Constantinople →

Saints commemorated

Holy Hieromartyr Mocius (288? 295?)

Mocius was a presbyter of Amphipolis in Macedonia who, in the persecution under Diocletian, broke into the drunken festival of Dionysus in his own city and called its worshippers to abandon their vileness for Christ. Tortured at Amphipolis and at Laodicea, thrown into a heated furnace and to the beasts and preserved unharmed, he was at length sent to Perinthus and then to Byzantium, and there beheaded about the year 295 — some thirty-five years before Constantine dedicated the new capital on the same site. Constantine afterwards built a church over his relics, and Mocius became the first and for centuries the most honoured of the martyrs of the City: his memory on May 11 is inseparable from the birthday of Constantinople itself.
Cyril the Philosopher

Cyril (c. 826 – 869), born Constantine at Thessalonica and known in his own day as the Philosopher, was the Byzantine scholar-monk who, with his elder brother Methodius, became the apostle of the Slavs. Trained in the imperial schools of Constantinople under Photius and Leo the Mathematician, he served as librarian of Hagia Sophia and teacher of philosophy, and was sent on embassies of disputation to the Arabs and the Khazars. Answering the request of Prince Rastislav of Great Moravia for teachers in the Slavic tongue, he devised the first Slavic alphabet — the Glagolitic — and with it translated the Gospel, the Epistle, the Psalter, and the services into Slavonic, opening the Scriptures and the Liturgy to a whole family of nations in their own language. Against the "trilingual" party that would confine worship to Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, he defended the right of every tongue to praise God. He carried the relics of Clement of Rome, which he had recovered in the Crimea, to Rome, where the Pope blessed the Slavonic books; there he fell ill, received the great schema with the name Cyril, and reposed on February 14, 869, and was buried in the Basilica of San Clemente. From his Glagolitic sprang the Cyrillic script that bears his name.
Joseph of Astrakhan

Joseph (1579–1671) was the first Metropolitan of Astrakhan, a native of that frontier city on the lower Volga who entered monastic life there, became archimandrite of its Trinity monastery, and was raised to the new metropolitan see in 1656. In the rising of the townspeople of Astrakhan during the revolt of Stepan Razin he refused to bless the rebels or to abandon his flock; on 11 May 1671 he was seized in his own cathedral after serving the Liturgy, tortured and thrown from the bell-tower of the citadel. His body lay nine days unburied before the clergy could vest and inter it, and healings were reported at his grave. He was glorified by the Council of the Russian Church in April 1918, in the first weeks of a new age of Russian martyrdom.
Methodius of Moravia

Methodius (c. 815–885) was, with his younger brother Cyril the Philosopher, the apostle of the Slavs — the elder of the two "Thessalonian brothers" who devised the Slavonic letters, translated the Scriptures and the services of the Church into the Slavonic tongue, and carried the Gospel to Great Moravia and the peoples of central Europe. After Cyril's death Methodius laboured on for sixteen years as archbishop, translating almost the whole Bible into Slavonic, defending the right of the Slavs to worship God in their own language against fierce opposition, and enduring imprisonment for the faith. He is honoured as Equal-to-the-Apostles; from the work of the two brothers and their disciples flows the whole tradition of Slavonic Orthodoxy.
Nicodemus of Serbia

Nicodemus (†1324) was Archbishop of Peć and of all the Serbian lands from 1317 to his death, an Athonite monk of Hilandar before his elevation and one of the most learned Serbian churchmen of the fourteenth century. He translated the Jerusalem Typikon into Serbian, giving the Serbian Church the liturgical order it has kept ever since; he compiled a synaxarion-calendar recording the death-days of the Serbian kings and archbishops so that their memorials might be kept correctly; he twice acted as peacemaker in the murderous quarrels of the Nemanjić house; he crowned Stephen Uroš III Dečanski at Epiphany 1321; and he built and restored churches at Peć, at Žiča and on Athos. He is honoured with the Serbian hierarchs, and his relics rest in the church of St Demetrius at the Patriarchate of Peć.
Olympia and Euphrosyne of Lesbos

Olympia and Euphrosyne were nuns of the monastery of Karyes at Thermi on Lesbos, put to death by pirates in 1235 — Olympia the young abbess of the house, Euphrosyne an eldress of it. Euphrosyne was hanged from a tree and burnt; Olympia was burnt over her whole body with torches, had a heated iron driven through her ears, and was at last nailed to a board with twenty nails. Their memory was lost for seven centuries and recovered in 1959, when their relics were found at the site of the ruined monastery in the same series of Lesbian discoveries that brought to light the relics of St Raphael and his companions. They are commemorated on May 11, and on Bright Tuesday with the Lesbian saints.
Rostislav of Moravia

Rostislav (Rastislav, †c. 870) was Prince of Great Moravia from 846, the ruler whose embassy to Constantinople in 862 brought Cyril and Methodius to the Slavs. Refused Slavonic-speaking teachers by Rome, he asked for them from the Emperor Michael III, and the mission that resulted gave the Slavonic peoples their alphabet, their Scriptures and their liturgy. Rostislav sheltered and financed that work against the fierce opposition of the Frankish clergy, was betrayed to the Franks by his nephew Svatopluk in 870, and was blinded and imprisoned in Bavaria, where he died. The Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia glorified him as Equal-to-the-Apostles in 1994, and he is commemorated on May 11 with the brothers he summoned.
Sophronius of the Kiev Caves

Sophronius was a recluse of the Far Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra, one of the monks of that house whose ascetic life is known only from the liturgical commemoration of the Caves fathers and whose relics rest in the Far (Theodosian) Caves. The Canon to the Venerable Fathers of the Far Caves remembers his solitary struggle in enclosure and says that he was counted worthy to hear the singing of angels. He is usually placed in the thirteenth century, but nothing of his history survives; his memory is kept on May 11, again on March 11 in Kievan usage, and with the whole company of the Far Caves fathers on August 28.

British Isles and Ireland

Holy Martyr & Hermit Fremund of Offchurch (866)
St. Tudy, Breton missionary to Cornwall (5th C)

Troparia & kontakia

Apolytikion — Tone 4

Sharing the manner of life of the Apostles and seated upon their thrones, thou didst find in the practice of virtue the way to the vision of God, O divinely-inspired one; therefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst contend for the faith even unto blood, O hieromartyr Mocius: intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion

To thee, our Champion Leader, we thy servants ascribe the prizes of victory and the thanksgiving of our deliverance, O Theotokos; and as thou hast might that cannot be withstood, deliver us from every peril, that we may cry unto thee: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Enlightening the world with firm and God-inspired teaching, with beams of purest light, thou didst run through the whole earth like lightning, O blessed Cyril, scattering the all-radiant word of God in the west and the north and the south, and enlightening the world with wonders.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Grown old in the service of the altar, thou wast not spared the martyr's contest, O hierarch Joseph; for from the tower thou wast cast down, and didst rise up to the heights: wherefore Astrakhan honours thee as her first shepherd and her intercessor.

Kontakion — Tone 3

Let us honour the sacred pair, our enlighteners, who by translating the divine writings poured forth for us a fountain of the knowledge of God, from which even to this day we draw abundantly; and we call thee blessed, O Methodius, together with Cyril, thou intercessor before the throne of the Most High for our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Thou didst overthrow the altars of the demons by thy word, O wise Mocius, and the fire and the beasts were made powerless against thee; and giving thy neck to the sword in the City of Constantine, thou wast shown a first-fruits of her martyrs: entreat Christ God for those who honour thee.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Having laboured on the Holy Mountain and been set as a shepherd over the Serbian flock, thou didst give thy people the order of the divine services and the memory of their fathers, O hierarch Nicodemus; and now, standing before the throne of glory, remember those who honour thy repose.

Kontakion — Tone 2

The tortures of the enemies of Christ ye endured with courage, O venerable martyrs, the one hanged upon the tree and the other pierced and nailed; and now, your relics being made manifest, ye pour out healings upon those who honour you.

Kontakion — Tone 8

Rejoice, O Moravian land, that hast borne a prince apostolic in zeal; for Rostislav sought and found the teachers of the Slavs, and by their word thy children were made literate in the things of God: with them entreat Christ for us who honour thee.

Troparion

O Sovereign Lady, guard the city that thou hast taken for thine own: for in thee it was founded, and by thy name it is called, and unto thee it lifts up its walls and its people as an offering; keep it in peace beneath thy protection, and save from every danger those who cry to thee: Rejoice, thou Champion of Christians.

Troparion — Tone 4

From thy swaddling-clothes, O God-voiced one, thou didst diligently take Wisdom to be thy sister; and beholding her all-radiant as a pure maiden, thou didst receive her and lead her home, and adorning thy soul and thy mind with her as with golden chains, thou wast found to be another Cyril, wise in mind and in name, O blessed one.

Troparion — Tone 4 (common of a hieromartyr)

Sharing the manner of life of the Apostles and seated upon their thrones, thou didst find in the practice of virtue the way to the vision of God, O divinely-inspired Joseph; and being first shepherd of the city of thy birth, thou didst lay down thy life rather than bless iniquity: intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 4

Equals of the Apostles and teachers of the Slavonic lands, Cyril and Methodius inspired of God: entreat the Master of all to establish all the Slavonic peoples in Orthodoxy and concord, to grant peace to the world, and to save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 8 (common of a hierarch)

Guide of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and holiness, lamp of the Serbian land, divinely inspired adornment of hierarchs, O most wise Nicodemus: by thy teaching thou hast enlightened all, thou harp of the Spirit; intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 4 (common of women martyrs)

As lambs of the flock of Christ ye were found in the fold of Karyes, and when the wolves came ye did not flee, O Olympia and Euphrosyne; for by fire and by iron ye were perfected, and hidden in the earth for many generations, ye have been revealed in these latter days to the joy of Lesbos: intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 4 (common of a right-believing prince)

Thou didst not seek an earthly kingdom only for thy people, O right-believing Rostislav, but the Word of God in their own tongue; and having sought teachers from the imperial city, thou didst receive the letters and the divine services, and hast enlightened the Slavonic race: wherefore, having suffered bonds and blindness for thy labour, thou dost intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 8 (common of a venerable father)

Walled in the darkness of the cave, thou didst find the unwaning light, O Sophronius our father; for in silence and enclosure thy prayer was made unceasing, and thou wast granted to hear the angels praising God: pray for us who honour thy memory.

Readings

Vespers

Composite 2 - Proverbs 10, 3, 8

¹The memory of a just man is praised, and the Lord’s blessing is upon his head. Blessed is one who has found wisdom; a mortal who knows understanding. To import her is better than treasures of gold and silver. She is more valuable than precious stones; nothing of value equals her worth. Justice proceeds from her mouth; she bears law and mercy on her tongue. Therefore, my children, listen to me, for I speak weighty things. And blessed is the one who keeps my ways. For my goings out are the goings out of life, and favour is prepared from the Lord. Therefore I exhort you, and utter my voice to the children of humankind. Because I, Wisdom, have prepared counsel, knowledge and understanding. I have called on them. Counsel and sureness are mine; prudence is mine, strength is mine. I love those who are my friends, while those who seek me will find grace. You innocent, then, understand cunning; you untaught, take it to heart. Listen to me, for I will speak weighty things, and I will open right things from my lips. Because my throat will meditate truth; lying lips are abominable before me. All the words of my mouth are with justice, there is nothing crooked in them nor twisted. They are all straight for those who understand, and right for those who find knowledge. For I teach you what is true, that your hope may be in the Lord and that you may be filled with spirit.

Proverbs 10.31-11.12

³¹The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. ³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. ¹A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. ²When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. ³The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. ⁴Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. ⁵The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. ⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. ⁷When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. ⁸The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. ⁹An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. ¹⁰When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. ¹¹By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. ¹²He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15

⁷But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. ⁸For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. ⁹But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. ¹⁰He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated. ¹¹Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. ¹²For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. ¹³He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: ¹⁴For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked. ¹⁵This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.

Matins Gospel

John 10.1-9

¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ²But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. ⁴And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. ⁵And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. ⁶This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. ⁷Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Epistle

Acts 12.12-17

¹²And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. ¹³And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. ¹⁴And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. ¹⁵And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. ¹⁶But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

Hebrews 7.26-8.2 (Saints)

²⁶For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ²⁷Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. ²⁸For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. ¹Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; ²A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Gospel

John 8.42-51

⁴²Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. ⁴³Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. ⁴⁴Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. ⁴⁵And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. ⁴⁶Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? ⁴⁷He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. ⁴⁸Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? ⁴⁹Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. ⁵⁰And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. ⁵¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Matthew 5.14-19 (Saints)

¹⁴Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. ¹⁷Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. ¹⁸For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. ¹⁹Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.